USA Olympic hockey projected roster

The NHL season is underway, and there is as much anticipation and excitement for this season as there has been in some time with the Olympics in Milan around the corner. It will be the first time since 2014 that the NHL players will represent their countries at the Olympics.

The Four Nations Face-off has only added to the anticipation as the tournament was a huge success for the NHL and the sport as a whole.

It wasn’t just the first time the NHL players represented their countries at a major tournament since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

The tournament had everything from players laying everything on the line, to fights between rivals and just some of the highest quality hockey many fans had seen. And a lot of the players that participated in that tournament will be in Milan for the Olympics.

Full rosters must be submitted by New Year’s. Each of the countries participating have already named six players that will play in the Olympics.

For the United States, those six players are Auston Matthews (who will likely be the team captain again), Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. That raises the question, who will join them?

The United States will be one of the favorites due to the quality and depth of talent head coach Mike Sullivan will have at his disposal. Many of the top talents are in their prime, but there is also plenty of young American talent on the come-up.

Forwards:

Extras: Matthew Knies, Matt Boldy

Just missed:, Cole Caufield, Patrick Kane, Bryan Rust

Defensemen:

Extras: Jake Sanderson, Seth Jones

Just missed: Noah Hanifin, K’Andre Miller, John Carlson

Goalies:

Jake Oettinger

Connor Hellebuyck

Jeremy Swayman

Let’s be frank, much of this is subject to change based on how these guys perform from now through December, and it could depend on health.

The Tkachuk brothers for example would likely be on the team anyway, but they probably don’t mind having the security of having already been named to the team since both will miss extended time.

Going back to performance this year though, the young players could play their way into the team. For example, Caufield and Boldy are off to hot starts and could easily play their way into the lineup, especially Boldy since he was a top 9 forward at the Four Nations.

It will be hard to leave Kane off the roster. He’s arguably the greatest American player of all time, and he’s talked openly about the fact that the one desire he has left in his career is a gold medal.

His play has declined in recent years as he’s aged, and he simply isn’t in his prime anymore. Add in the amount of young talent this country has produced, and there just might not be a spot for him anymore.

The lineup also could vary. For example, Matthews could end up being the top line center, and he did see some time with the Tkachuks at the Four Nations, but Sullivan liked matching them with Eichel for the most part.

On defense, there has been less debate in recent months. It is largely expected that the eight listed above will be expected, with the top six also likely decided.

Hanifin did suit up at the Four Nations, and he’s a solid big body defenseman on the left side. He’s just not as talented as someone like Sanderson, who is also younger, even though Hanifin is only 28.

This grouping is just too talented and deep to expect anyone else breaking through for a spot. Again, the lineup could vary, as it’s very likely that Hughes will be in the first pairing.

Regardless, it’s stacked with superstars, including Werenski and Slavin, who probably are talked about the least among the starting six, but became household stars overnight with their performances at the Four Nations.

The major controversy for this team will be who starts between the pipes. Hellebuyck started at the Four Nations as he was in the middle of what turned out to be a Hart Trophy winning season.

He played well at the Four Nations, but his level of play did not carry over into the postseason. It’s a demon that Hellebuyck has battled in recent years, not just last year.

Add that to the fact that Oettinger is also one of the best goalies in the league, and his postseason performances have been much better, including the first two rounds of the past playoffs.

While the most recent memory of him in the playoffs won’t excite Americans about the idea of him playing in the Olympics, that playoff failure can largely be attributed to the poor play of the Stars as a team as opposed to just Oettinger.

He was fantastic prior to that series, especially in the second round against the Jets where he outdueled Hellebuyck, and he was a large reason they got that far in the first place.

Regardless of what variation we see put together, this roster will be loaded and deep with talent. The United States will have a much better roster than they did at the last couple of Olympics, and this may be the best chance they’ve had at winning their first gold medal since 1980.

Jacob Rudy is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.